Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to substantiate the veteran's claim for service connection of a right leg disability. This includes obtaining medical records from his first and third periods of service, as well as any subsequent treatment records.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for chest wall pain is being remanded due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for chronic residuals of a back injury, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for DIC, finding that the appellant's claim was not timely filed and thus the effective date is November 13, 2001.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board found that the veteran's in-grown toenail disability was aggravated by his military service and granted service connection for it. The bilateral calcaneal spurs were not related to his military service, but he is now rated at 50% for PTSD.

The Board denied entitlement to increased disability evaluations for the veteran's chondromalacia of the left and right knees, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent.

The veteran's income is found to be excessive for non-service-connected disability pension benefits, and the claim is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits, finding that the law does not allow for such a retroactive award.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of her appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for schizoaffective disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented.

The veteran's claim for service connection for basal cell carcinoma of the left lower extremity, which he asserts is due to exposure to herbicides such as Agent Orange, was denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the condition to his period of service and thus denied the claim. Additionally, the claims for increased evaluations for arthritis of the left knee, DDD and spondylosis of the lumbar spine, and DDD and spondylosis of the cervical spine were also denied.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for post-operative residuals of a left total hip replacement, finding that the veteran's disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on marked severity of weakness, pain, or limitation of motion.

The veteran died in mid-1998 and was divorced at the time of his death. The appellant, who filed for VA benefits as a surviving spouse, is not recognized as such due to her divorce from the veteran prior to his death.

The veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent since April 11, 2008. The appeal is granted as the disability meets the criteria for a 10 percent rating under DC 5262.

The Board denied the veteran's claims as there is no evidence of active iritis or significant vision loss from his bilateral pterygia. The current ratings for residuals of iritis of the right eye and bilateral pterygia are found to be appropriate based on the available medical evidence.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for VA educational assistance under Chapter 30, Title 38 United States Code (the Montgomery GI Bill) because he did not meet the eligibility requirements based on his service record and information provided by VA was incomplete.

The case is being remanded for further clarification of the decedent's service status to determine eligibility for VA non-service-connected death pension.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cyst of the spleen, colon polyps, and hiatal hernia are related to service. The effective dates for these conditions have not been established as requested.

The veteran is seeking service connection for dizziness and loss of equilibrium, which he claims are related to his service-connected shell fragment wound to the head. The case has been remanded for further examination and opinion regarding whether these symptoms constitute a chronic disability and if they are related to his service-connected conditions.